Do Any of you Find Regular Foot/Toe Exercises Help Pain?

I do no specific exercises, but am active in walking (golf), xc skiing, bicycling and a little running. I find only time I work with my feet is when I get a pins/needles attack and have to massage it away. This is most effective means for me to decrease the discomfort. I am not sure what exercise would do for the feet and nerves specifically. I find if I exercise my legs and do not stretch adequately that it appears to bring on more of symptoms. One of the first questions I asked of the specialists when I was being diagnosed was how can I create the most beneficial state for the nerves? They didn't have a clue but just said everything I thought based on diet or exercise didn't really matter. I believe they didn't really know, so could not offer any help.

I stretch my legs, feet and toes morning (after my treadmill workout) and night after I get in bed. It is very relaxing to breathe deeply and stretch those areas. My toes often feel like there is tissue paper wrapped around them and stretching releases that tightness. I also use a 'Pro-Tec Athletics Spiky Massage Ball' for a deep tissue massage.

Do you just roll this ball on your toes? I have terrible toe problems. They throb, stab, burn, feel like they are overlapped when they are not, get very weak, they are horrid. Do you use the ball on your feet regularly? Do you have toe pain? Any info would help! Thanks.

I also massage feet and toes, but nothing helps in the long term. I have severe toe and ball of foot pain that utterly is debilitating. The docs, like yours, kind of shrug their shoulders at exercise. I think I will just do toe and feet exercises daily and see what happens. I was taught in physical therapy, but never did it daily. Thanks for responding!!!!

Why exercise would be anything but good is a mystery to me. Why doctors do not encourage it to keep circulation and muscle tone at least to minimal level I just do not understand. But I find my symptoms seem to occur with little to no warning irregardless of what activity I am doing. Sometimes sitting at a chair with socks and shoes on brings unbearable itching/crawling flesh feeling. Sometimes in bed with feet under covers suddenly it feels like a clamp has been placed tightly on my feet, even though the covers are not even touching them. When I remove feet from under covers the pain stops immediately. Go figure. Our bodies are amazing and devious at the same time.

God, do you sum it up in a nut shell. I absolutely could not say it any better myself. There is no rhyme or reason to my foot pain. I like your description of our bodies as devious. They really are. I get mysterious itches since my neuropathy to drive me nuts, I get days, when out of the blue, the foot pain is mild, and I think, "what the hell is this?" The next day, my feet feel twisted, aching, burning...on and on....its all a mystery. And you are right. At the very least, we should maintain muscle tone, strength. Specialists only have their specialty in mind. Total tunnel vision. Anyway, good luck with your health journey. It is so hard...….Lori Renee

@lorirenee1 @deankmn Your description of your feet feeling twisted is somewhat accurate I think. I watched that happen to my mom literally after she broke her foot, an ankle and her pelvis in a fall. She healed, but her body tightened and twisted her foot into a position as if you twisted your ankle and pointed your toe at the same time. Muscles work in opposition and use bones as levers where each muscle pulls against the tension of the opposing muscle. If one gets too tight, it affects the other that is being stretched. The pelvis can be pulled out of correct alignment this way, and that transfers the uneven tension down the leg. It can cause misalignment in the knees and feet. Think of it as a system of levers(bones), pulleys(joints and ligaments) and strings(muscles and tendons) and when you pull too hard on one, everything is affected. Misalignment in the joints causes uneven wear and tear over time which contributes to the need for joint replacements when the forces are not distributed properly. My mom was unable to stand up and walk on her foot a few months after doing rehab, but it hurt and when she stopped putting weight on it, her foot twisted. She had surgery to cut and splice the tendons to lengthen them. She doesn't walk well at all now, but her foot doesn't twist anymore. In speaking to her podiatrist about hammer toes, he said that they are caused by incorrect tension in the tendons. I have had plantar fasciaitis from a similar issue when my pelvis was out of alignment and that transfers the tightness down to my foot. In stretching everything out in my feet, legs, and hips to maintain proper body alignment, I was able to get past that. There is also tightness that occurs from the fascia and it can be remedied with Myofascial release therapy. I've done this with my physical therapist and it has helped me a lot. I created a discussion about MFR to collect information and here's the link. MFR can help a lot of physical issues and get the tissues moving properly again. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Thanks so much, Jennifer. I will look into the fascia info. It looks like it might help. My foot problems are from nerve damage, so it is hard to know.

Lorirenee, your description of your neuropathic pain sounds quite familiar to mine. Although my feet turn very cold, sometimes a bluish color and also red and can feel hot. I have Raynaud’s I along with neuropathy. The doctors all say it’s idiopathic but it’s difficult to believe there is not an autoimmune component. The only exercise I can bear right now is swimming laps in a warm pool. This is my salvation so to speak. I would like to know which CBD salve that you use? I have some Papa and Barkley Releaf balm but it’s not working that well. I know everyone reacts differently. Thank you.

Hi Laura, My salve is pretty marvelous. My toes often feel stuck together, cramped, twisted, throbbing, jabbing.....anyway,.....the salve is ordered on line at Ananda Hemp. They make only one salve, so you cannot miss it. It is spectrum salve 125, topical cream. The salve relaxes my toes, and makes them feel like human toes again. Go to anandahemp.com The salve is about 25 dollars, if I remember correctly, and worth every penny. It is shipped promptly. I swear by it. By the way, I also have Raynauds. and I am very sensitive to cold. I use hot water whirlpool on my feet. Drs. suspect autoimmunity because I have a positive anti nuclear antibody. So we do share a lot! Anyway, go get that salve! It is worth a try. Good luck. Keep swimming! Lori Renee